Page 64 of One Touch

Chapter 13

Lily

What makes a greatfirst sex scene?

I stood back and surveyed my handiwork—a towering display of romance novels featuring some of the filthiest, most sensual first fucks ever put to paper. The sign on the table said, “First Time’s the Charm: Climactic First Encounters.”

There wasFlawlessby Elsie Silver. That sex scene had torn me apart. It was a long time coming, and the hunger that the two characters had for each was off the charts. There wasTroubleby Tia Louise. There’s nothing like a confident man who knows exactly what he wants. And of course,Rushby Maya Banks. Nothing fancy about that. Just hot as hell.

Almost as hot as a man who flings you over a sports car, spanks your ass, and bangs your brains out.

I sighed.

A day had passed since Ethan and I had, ahem, spent time together in his garage, but I felt like the aftershocks were still reverberating around my body. Every now and then, I’d thinkabout something he’d done, like the way he’d held his erection at my slick entrance and made me wait and wait and wait for him.

And every time I thought about it, I’d feel the heat under my skin. The tremors in my legs.

I’d need to breathe slowly, deliberately, fighting my way through a haze of pleasure, finding my way back to Planet Earth.

What makes a great first sex scene?

It leaves you wanting more.

I adjusted the stack of novels, making sure all the spines were aligned. Perfectly fitting together. Just like Ethan had fit so perfectly in me. . . .

And there went my legs again.

So far, the rules I’d written out seemed to be working.

Ethan and I had sex. Hot, dirty, butt-spanking sex. And then I jumped in his shower—alone—and left. I barely spoke to him that evening while I looked after Ava, either.

Top marks to us.

We didn’t get snowed in, or fall asleep, or decide to go on a road trip together.

We did well. And it felt good. It felt safe. Exciting, but safe.

Plus, I had managed not to see any birds or deer or any other fairytale signs that Ethan was “the one.” Which, I think, meant I was growing. Learning how to be a normal person.

I adjusted a stray copy ofReckless. The problem with all these steamy books in front me was that after those steamy first encounters, the characters in the stories started careening toward their odds-defying, unrealistic-as-hell, happily ever afters.

Bullshit. It was all bullshit.

And there was a certain joy in accepting that. That no matter what happened between Ethan and I, no matter how fuckinggorgeousour sex was, it wasn’t going to lead to some kind ofnirvana. It wasn’t a means to an end. It was just down and dirty, in the moment fucking.

And that’s surely the best kind, isn’t it?

Just then, my phone buzzed, and I almost leaped out of my skin and knocked down the entire display of books I’d so carefully built up all morning.

I tried not to check for messages too eagerly. Sure, I was hoping it might be a certain dark and brooding, firefighting, single-dad mechanic with talented hands and perfect lips. But it’s not like I caredthatmuch. I was just hoping for a booty call. That’s all. Something mindless and feelings-free.

It wasn’t him. Obviously.

It was Elara.

Hey Lils, where are you? I’m waaaaaiting.

Argh! I’d completely forgotten our wedding planning session. I checked the time—luckily, I was only five minutes late. I didn’t bother typing anything back, I just put up the ‘Out for lunch’ sign on the bookstore door, then locked up, and headed out.

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